Denghuangtai

Pei Qingyan wanted to back down, but the power struggle among the various parties had reached a fever pitch, and she simply couldn't extricate herself.

Not long after, a plague broke out in Zhongdu. Pei Qingyan and Yun Zheng were ordered to provide disaster relief and fight the epidemic. In the face of life and death, the two finally had the opportunity to clear up the misunderstanding between them and express the love that had been suppressed in their hearts for many years.

Pei Qingyan also told Yun Zheng that she had discovered Empress Dowager Yun was the real culprit, putting Yun Zheng once again in a dilemma between love and family. However, unlike Empress Dowager Yun, Pei Qingyan didn't force Yun Zheng to choose between the two. She stated that this was a matter between her and Empress Dowager Yun; Empress Dowager Yun had failed the 30,000 soldiers who died in battle, and she should bear the responsibility. Yun Zheng understood, but facing his aunt who had raised him, he couldn't bear to watch Empress Dowager Yun die. Moreover, based on his understanding of her, she was definitely not the kind of person who would do such a thing. He pleaded with Pei Qingyan for time to reinvestigate, and Pei Qingyan agreed.

Back in the capital, the two continued their open rivalry, but secretly began to work together to investigate what happened back then. However, no matter how hard they investigated, they couldn't find a second answer.

Just as the two were about to believe that Empress Dowager Yun was the real culprit, the North descended into chaos once more. The young emperor was murdered, and the Prince of Yan seized the throne, citing the Empress Dowager's misrule. To protect Pei Qingyan and Yun Zheng, Empress Dowager Yun faced certain death, while Princess Huaiyang was imprisoned. The Great Zhao Dynasty descended into turmoil, with war raging across the land. Meanwhile, Pei Qingyan and Yun Zheng, having escaped Chang'an, resolved to conquer the world and usher in a golden age of peace and prosperity…

"My lord, someone has been secretly sending a message to the person in the imperial prison."

"Hmm." Yun Zheng nodded casually, not surprised. "I knew she wouldn't be the type to surrender so easily, and I was right."

Upon hearing this, Feng Xing nodded and flattered, "My lord's foresight is truly divine."

Yun Zheng scoffed, "I know her personality all too well."

Feng Xing paused for a moment, then said, "However, those people were far too careless and reckless. If it weren't for our lord sending us to keep an eye out and help them in secret, they would probably have been captured by others long ago."

"You're wrong." Yun Zheng tossed the chess manual onto the table, looked up at him, and said, "Most of Marquis Yin'an's troops were recruited from Shuofang. How could those people understand how deep the waters run in Chang'an?"

Feng Xing suddenly realized: "So that's how it is. But my lord, there's still one thing I don't understand."

"What is it?"

"Everyone in the capital knows that the Pei and Yun families are mortal enemies. Why are you secretly trying to smooth things over for the Pei family?" Feng Xing was an orphan that Yun Zheng found in the orphanage. He was loyal only to Yun Zheng, not to the Yun family. Therefore, he didn't have any ulterior motives. He did whatever Yun Zheng told him to do. However, he didn't quite understand Yun Zheng's intentions and couldn't help but ask.

She stood in the courtyard, dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit. Her dark hair was slightly damp from the snow, yet she wielded her long sword with fierce skill. The sword light was like a bolt of lightning, cleaving through the swirling snowflakes, sometimes sharp as a falling star, sometimes graceful as a swirling breeze carrying snow. As she twirled, her black robes swept across the snow-covered ground, splashing up fine snowflakes that clung to her brows and hair, making her eyes appear even brighter, like a cold pool filled with the light of snow.

Inside the warm pavilion, Yun Zheng sat by the window, meticulously sketching on a plain silk scroll with a wolf-hair brush. He held his breath, his gaze fixed on the figure in the courtyard, the brushstrokes capturing her graceful sword dance. The scent of ink mingled with the snow outside, drifting in. As he lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes cast soft shadows beneath them, his expression so focused that it seemed he had absorbed the entire world into that inkstone.

Suddenly, she spun around and sheathed her sword, just in time to look up.

Their eyes met from afar.

She paused slightly, her grip on the sword loosening slightly. Snowflakes landed on her eyelashes, melting into tiny droplets, but her gaze remained fixed. In her clear eyes, the light from the window was reflected, as was his seated figure, carrying a hint of dreamlike bewilderment, yet also a subtle, almost imperceptible, inquisitive look.

Yun Zheng also stopped writing and looked up. His eyes were deep and unfathomable, the focus he had maintained while writing had not yet faded, but now it had all turned into a deep ink color, steadily capturing her figure. There were no words, only their gazes intertwined silently in the wind and snow, like fine threads passing through the flying snowflakes and quietly tying themselves together.

In her dream, on the city wall of Shuofang, the banner bearing the character "Pei" fluttered forlornly. Outside the city gate, Pei Qingyan led her soldiers in a fierce battle against the Xiongnu. She was at the forefront, her face and body covered in blood.

She was tireless, hacking and slashing at the Xiongnu who charged at her, causing them to retreat in disarray and flee for their lives. The crowd cheered as they watched the Xiongnu's disheveled figures disappear.

"Withdraw." Pei Qingyan gave the order, and the group walked towards the city gate, which then opened.

Just as Pei Qingyan turned around, several arrows, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind, hurtled towards her. Pei Qingyan quickly swung her sword and dodged, deflecting the arrows. The crowd swiftly surrounded Pei Qingyan.

Several more arrows flew towards her, all aimed at Pei Qingyan's heart.

"Escort the lord back to the city."

Wu Yong shouted sharply, gripping the heavy hammer handle tightly with both hands. He struck the two hammers together, and with a resounding clang, a sharp sound pierced the air. Enraged, he charged towards the direction of the arrow.

"Withdraw all."

Pei Qingyan's face was pale, but his eyes remained resolute. The sharp edge he had forged in the crucible of battle was now fully revealed. "Don't delay, retreat."

At her command, the crowd escorted her into the city, and the soldiers at the city gate rushed out to greet them.

Back at the military camp, Pei Qingyan sent all the generals back, and went to the central command tent to remove his armor and treat his wounds. On the battlefield, it was not uncommon to get cuts and scrapes.

Just as she drew her sword to snatch the arrow,